European policy instruments for pollinator conservation Stuart Roberts & Simon G. Potts
Key European policy instruments Prior to 1990... Since 1990 Instrument Global Continental National Local Convention on Biological Diversity Biodiversity Action Plans Economics...can help! Agri-Environment Schemes ( ) Protected Area legislation Red Lists 2015
International Pollinator Initiative Conference Of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity IX/1 (Oct 2008): 1. To complete information on pollinator species, populations and their taxonomy, ecology and interactions; 2. To establish the framework for monitoring declines and identifying their causes; 3. To assess the agricultural production, ecological, and socio-economic consequences of pollinator declines; 4. To compile information on best practices and lessons learned; 5. To develop response options to promote, and prevent the further loss of, pollination services that sustain human livelihoods; 6. To disseminate openly the results through the clearing-house mechanism and other relevant means.
National Biodiversity Strategies National strategy and detailed plans to describe and protect biological diversity Partnership >300 organisations to identify priorities; revised regularly (2010 review) Action plans: Species: 1150 including Bees (20/250), Butterflies (24/56), Hoverflies (7/250) Habitats 65 priority habitats including many important for pollinators (e.g. meadows, hedgerows) Local reflect local priorities
Agri-environment schemes European minimum legal requirement Good Farming Practice Move beyond this baseline to preserve the environment and safeguard the countryside: Programmes are mandatory for all European Member States Agreements are voluntary for farmers (5-10 yr contract) Farmers paid for environmental services Payments cover income foregone, costs incurred and necessary incentive Payments are DECOUPLED from production!
English schemes Environmental Stewardship (2003-) ENTRY level scheme: Voluntary High level of uptake Simple & effective management Wider biodiversity HIGHER level scheme: Voluntary Targeted at priority habitats and species Specific environmental outcomes
Entry Level Scheme High uptake
Entry Level Scheme High uptake Menu of options Points per option Reach target for payment
Entry Level Scheme High uptake Menu of options Points per option Reach target for payment Options: Taking areas out of production
Entry Level Scheme High uptake Menu of options Points per option Reach target for payment Options: Taking areas out of production Sowing flower meadows Increasing crop variety
Entry Level Scheme High uptake Menu of options Points per option Reach target for payment Options: Taking areas out of production Sowing flower meadows Increasing crop variety Boundary management
Entry Level Scheme High uptake Menu of options Points per option Reach target for payment Options: Taking areas out of production Sowing flower meadows Increasing crop variety Boundary management Field margins
Field margins Benefits Establishment Maintenance Restrictions Points value
Higher Level Scheme Aims to deliver significant environmental benefits in high priority situations Competitive entry with discretionary award Requires Farm Environment Plan in consultation with expert advisors Specialist options: Habitat restoration Arable conversion to grassland 10 year agreement
Economic case for policy Total value of pollination services to UK crops is $750 million p.a. (~10% of the total value of agriculture) Crop Dependence on Pollinators (%) Value p.a. ( '000 000) Replacement cost of this service, using hand pollination, would be $2,570 Oilseed Rapemillion p.a. 25 106 Strawberry 45 72 Crop Replacement Cost Total cost Tomatoes ( / ha) ( 65'000 000) 56 Oilseed Rape Dessert Apples 1,779 851,048 44 can Blackcurrants be maintained 55,741 by sowing 149 2.5% of farmland with a Culinary Apples 85 43 Avoidance cost, based on the assumption that pollinators Field Beans 706 118 pollen and nectar flower mix, would be $45 million p.a. Strawberries Raspberry 21,186 45 83 39 Linseed Cucumbers 1,779 65 55 22 The Raspberries cost of avoiding 19,760 pollinator 28 loss is less than 2% of the Runner Beans 85 16 cost of replacing them Other Soft Fruit 13,372 11 Plums 65 6 Tomatoes 43,842 9 Pears 65 5 Dessert Apples 3,76 2 Protection Broad Beans is therefore 976 the best 2 option for ensuring Others 5-85 30 Others 376-16,443 6 sustainable TOTAL TOTAL delivery of pollination 1,510M services 440M for agriculture
Protected Area legislation Designation based upon habitat, species and cultural criteria (European Directives): Rarely designated for pollinator species (butterflies, hoverfly) Often designated for broad habitats used by pollinators Natura 2000: network of ~27,000 sites (>1 M km 2, 12% land area) across Europe: Sites managed for local and national species and habitat needs Network managed for continental priorities Dynamic to provide connectivity under global change
IUCN Red Lists Red lists assess extinction risks ( conservation priority) Global Red List: 2 species: Bombus franklini & Megachile pluto Regional Red Lists: 8 of 25 EU countries have a national red list Average of 45% of species included (35-60%) Developing European Red List (expected 2015) Basis for conservation actions... Critically Endangered & Data Deficient (!)
Conclusions Pollinator conservation is a multi-sector (protected areas, agriculture) and multi-scale (global to local) challenge The most effective tools appear to be those with high level objectives and local implementation European policy tools take into account pollinators but will increasingly need to consider pollination services To remain effective under global change, existing policy instruments will need to be both dynamic and adaptive
Acknowledgements Resources: CBD: http://www.cbd.int UK BAP: http://www.ukbap.org.uk Environmental Stewardship: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk Natura 2000: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000 IUCN: http://www.iucn.org Pollinator group at Reading University Colleagues in ALARM, SCALES and STEP projects More info: s.g.potts@reading.ac.uk